Adaptations

How do adaptations help animals survive in their environment?

• An adaptation is a body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment.

• Adaptation can help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide.

• All animals are adapted to live in certain habitats.

• Animals that cannot adapt will die out.

We can separate adaptations into two categories:

Physical

AND

Behavioral

•Physical adaptations are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species.

•Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment.

Hey! I’m a walking

stick. I look just like a

stick you’d find on the

ground.

© A. Weinberg

Physical adaptation

Camouflage : the ability to hide itself from prey by using its own color

The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

Mimicry: (looking or sounding like another living

organism)

The Viceroy butterfly uses mimicry to look like the Monarch butterfly. Can you tell them apart?

Poisonous

Not poisonous

Physical adaptation

I’m the Monarch!

I’m the Viceroy!

Chemical defenses : venom, ink, sprays

Physical adaptation

Body coverings & parts :claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth

Physical adaptation

The elephant’s trunk is a physical adaptation that helps it to clean itself, eat, drink, and to pick

things up.

Behavioral Adaptations :the way an animal behaves in order to

survive

Each organism has unique methods of adapting to its environment by means of

different actions.

Behavioral Adaptations are animals’ actions.

Remember that Physical Adaptations are body

structures.

Homeostasis

• The process by which an organism’s internal environment is kept stable despite changes in the external environment.

• Examples: – The thickening of fur in winter.– The seeking of shade in heat.– The production of more red blood cells

at high altitude.

Endotherms vs.

Ectotherms

Endotherms

• Endotherms: animals that generate their own heat in order to maintain a body temperature– We call these animals warm-blooded.– Keep a constant body temperature

regardless of changes in the surrounding temperature

How do endotherms adapt?• Fat layers, fur, and

feathers insulate the body and retain heat.

• Shivering muscles contract to increase body heat.

• Some animals hibernate. Hibernation enables animals to survive long periods of cold and lack of food.

• Canines, like this Brittany, use panting as a means of temperature regulation.

Ectotherms

• Ectotherms :animals whose body temperature changes with their surroundings

• We call these animals cold-blooded– Body temperature fluctuates with

changes in the surrounding temperature.

How do ectotherms adapt?• Most marine fish and

invertebrates live in water that stays the same temperature.

• When the weather is warm, they become active. They slow down when the temperature drops.– To warm up, reptiles find sunny

places, and stretch out for maximum exposure. If it gets too warm, lizards alternate between sun and shade.

– Amphibians warm up by moving into the sun or diving into warm water. They cool off by entering the shade.

Example of Adaptation

• The shape of an animal’s teeth is related to its diet. – Herbivores, such as

deer, have many molars for chewing tough grass and plants.

– Carnivores, such as lions, have sharp canines to kill and tear meat.

Who experiences adaptations?

• All species have experienced adaptation and will continue to slowly adapt as the next generations are born.

• We will identify certain species from each of these groups and the reasons for their success:– Mammals– Birds– Reptiles– Amphibians

Mammals

• Endothermic or warm-blooded• All have some type

of “hair”– Some are very

specialized, such as white polar bear fur

• Way to move around

• Care for young

Birds

• Leg Length – Roseate Spoonbill

(top right)

• Foot Webbing – Laughing Gull

(top left)

• Beak Shape– Long Billed Curlew

(bottom)

Reptiles

• Ectothermic or cold- blooded

• Scales• Some undergo

hibernation and estivation

• Lay eggs on land• Leg structure and

position

Amphibians

• Ectothermic• Lay eggs in water• Partially or fully

webbed feet• Have lungs or can

absorb oxygen through their skin

Animal Defense• Some animals use

these methods of defense to protect themselves:– Camouflage

• Snake

– Mimicry• Mexican Milk Snake

– Bright colors• Skunk and Poison Arrow

Frog

– “Hair” projections• Hedgehog quills• Deer Antlers

Adaptation Applications: Lions• Why are the eyes of

a lion set in front of the head rather than on the sides?

• Answer: Eyes in front of the head allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when hunting.

Adaptation Applications: Lions

• What is the purpose of the mane on a male lion? What is the reason for the lion’s color?

• A thick mane helps the male to appear larger and serves as protection for the throat. The tawny brown coat color camouflages the animal and young among vegetation.

Adaptation Applications: Giraffe

• Why are giraffes able to go for long periods of time without water?

• Answer: Giraffes drink water when available, but can go weeks without it. They rely on morning dew and the water content of their food.

Adaptation Applications: Giraffe

• How are their long necks adapted to their lifestyle?

• Answer: This extra length is thought to have evolved to help the giraffe spot predators and other giraffes in the distance. Interestingly, giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrate in their necks.

Adaptation Applications: Zebras

• How do zebras defend themselves?

• Capable of running up to 40 mph. Zebras defend themselves by kicking and biting. Coloration also plays a role in evading predators, although theories have not reached an agreement.

Reproductive adaptations:

• Sexual Reproduction: 2 parents• Asexual Reproduction: 1 parent• What is an advantage/disadvantage

of each type of reproduction for survival of an organism?

Examples of plant adaptations:

• Thorns (for protection)• Poisons (for protection)• Bright colors (for pollination)• Spines (for protection)• Odor (for protection)• Deep roots (desert plants)

Adaptations for certain biomes:

• 1. Desert: ability to store water (cactus, camel), deep roots (plants)

• 2. Aquatic: plants have floating seeds, animals have to be adapted to high pressure under water, webbed feet

• 3. High altitude biomes (mountains): larger lungs and organisms carry more oxygen in red blood cells

Resources• This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms.

Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at– http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/amiew/Ani

mal-Adaptations-PPT• It is also partially adapted from an animal

adaptation powerpoint created by City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History the original can be viewed at – http://

www.ccmuseumedres.com/Animal%20Adaptations.ppt

• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6750/Temperature-Regulation-Internally-heated-animals.html

• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6749/Temperature-Regulation-Externally-heated-animals.html